Snatch strap/Recovery straps

[rynosback]

I want to carry a snatch strap with me. I have a RC 3500 4x2 CTD DRW and tow a 20-21k 5ver. I do not go off road and would not be deep into anything. Wet grass and any incline is the reason. I have done a bit of reading on this and read the differences between snatch straps/recovery. Any suggestions?

 

[TJJEEPER]

Any Off Road shop will have what you want, Four Wheel parts stores are everywhere these days. Just looking, it appears they rate them at 10,000 lbs per inch of width so a minimum 3" width and it should be enough to get you unstuck. I'd get the 30' length for the application you're looking for.
DO NOT get the Harbor Freight straps with the hooks. They provide a nasty projectile if/when they break. Get the ones with the loop and a couple good shackles rated the same as the strap.

Just my experience from years of jeepin'

 

[JMarhofke]

I have several that I have purchased over the years, and I also suggest a 30' one. I keep one in each vehicle. There are a lot of brand name one's out there, and with different ratings. There is also some pretty good recovery "ropes" as well, such as "Bubba Rope". They take up a little more room since you can't roll them up like a strap. A couple of years ago I purchased the "Big Bubba", 1 1/4" x 30' to keep in the truck. It is rated at 52,300. What made me a believer in the rope, was watching a guy with a 3/4, 4x4 pickup "snatch" a medium duty single axle dump truck from a snow bank. I'm sure a larger recovery strap with higher ratings could have done the same. But this sure was impressive to see. If you have ever seen or used a good "recovery/snatch strap or rope, you know what they can do. It is something that you may never use, but sure nice to have if needed. Good luck with your choice.

 

[NIsaacs]

If you have ever seen or used a good "recovery/snatch strap or rope, you know what they can do. I

Yes, make sure what you attach to is up to the task, it's amazing what a soft stretchy jerk will rip off

I like the 2" 2ply strap, the 3" or 4" 1ply are fine but are not as compact, the longer the strap the more stretch they have which is what makes them work. Like TJ said, get some good shackles for assistance in variable hook points.

Nick

 

[rynosback]

Any Off Road shop will have what you want, Four Wheel parts stores are everywhere these days. Just looking, it appears they rate them at 10,000 lbs per inch of width so a minimum 3" width and it should be enough to get you unstuck. I'd get the 30' length for the application you're looking for.
DO NOT get the Harbor Freight straps with the hooks. They provide a nasty projectile if/when they break. Get the ones with the loop and a couple good shackles rated the same as the strap.

Just my experience from years of jeepin'

The reading that I have done states that true snap straps do not have metal hooks on them, only loops. For the reason that you stated not having flying hooks back at you.

 

[Regcabguy]

My friend and I were driving into a remote Baja site close to the edge of a dry mud zone. He inadvertently veered right and instantly we were stuck up to the hubs. I brought along a 30' snatchum strap and persuaded a local man driving a 1/2 ton Chevy stepside with baldies to jerk us out. Had to talk him into flooring it. Boing,out we came.
My friend's truck was an F-250 4wd. We tipped the local handsomely.

 

[JR]

I carry an old nylon lifting sling from work as a tow strap. If they get a cut in them they are not to be used for lifting and get replaced, I wait for them to be thrown in the dumpster and then go shopping
I once used a 3" wide 20 ft nylon to yank a friend's 1 ton dump body plow truck out of a nasty ditch with. Took several hard hits to get him out (I was on ice too, poor traction). I still have that strap. The good thing about using lifting straps is that they are designed with a 5x safety factor. So if the tag on a strap says it is rated for 10k on a straight pull it's breaking strength is 50k lbs.

 

[rynosback]

I have several that I have purchased over the years, and I also suggest a 30' one. I keep one in each vehicle. There are a lot of brand name one's out there, and with different ratings. There is also some pretty good recovery "ropes" as well, such as "Bubba Rope". They take up a little more room since you can't roll them up like a strap. A couple of years ago I purchased the "Big Bubba", 1 1/4" x 30' to keep in the truck. It is rated at 52,300. What made me a believer in the rope, was watching a guy with a 3/4, 4x4 pickup "snatch" a medium duty single axle dump truck from a snow bank. I'm sure a larger recovery strap with higher ratings could have done the same. But this sure was impressive to see. If you have ever seen or used a good "recovery/snatch strap or rope, you know what they can do. It is something that you may never use, but sure nice to have if needed. Good luck with your choice.

I forgot to ask, why a 30 foot one? My worst case would be 10 feet off a road, gravel or paved on wet grass. Thanks for the tips.

 

[rynosback]

I also take it that if I attach one end to one of my tow hooks, it should be strong enough for the YANK. 2015 Ram 3500.

 

[NIsaacs]

the longer the strap the more stretch they have which is what makes them work.

Nick

I wouldn't get anything less than 20' or 25'. That will allow the tow vehicle to find some solid ground and give it some distance from your vehicle. This is what I use: http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Towin...aps/Recovery-Straps-W-Cordura-Eyes-2x25-2-ply

Nick

 

[jhenderson]

I also take it that if I attach one end to one of my tow hooks, it should be strong enough for the YANK. 2015 Ram 3500.

Straight pull only. The mounting brackets are not designed for being used on an angle from the truck.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I have a 4" x 30' strap in my tool box cache. Never leave home without it.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Straps are often cheaper at crane and rigging shops, where they are properly rated, at working load limit (WLL). Four wheel shops often give the breaking strength, which is misleading for safe usage. Depending on the item, strap, hook, etc. the difference is a factor of 3 or 4. Check out my articles in Issues 47, 51 for more discussion.

 

[jhenderson]

The difference being a good dedicated tow strap has some stretch designed in to aid in snatching a stuck vehicle when the recovery vehicle has poor traction. A lift strap has minimal stretch by design.

 

[JR]

Tow straps may perceive to stretch more because they are generally only one or two ply vs lifting slings which are multi ply. They are not designed for kinetic loads any more or less than a lifting strap is. Both are considered tension straps. We've got 6" wide 20ft long nylons rated at 40,000 lbs that stretch over 3" under constant tension. A true snatch strap like a bubba rope is not nylon construction.

Not to say that a nylon strap WONT take a shock load. Many use them as such on a regular basis (myself included) and they will last for a while. Just not as long as a true snatch strap.

Joes advice is sound in the ratings dept. Tow strap ratings often give breaking strength vs lifting straps that tell you the safe working limit. Whatever the safe working limit is of a particular strap you can multiply by 5 to get the breaking strength (5x safety factor). Both will work fine as long as you understand the ratings.

 

[rynosback]

Interesting as some give a weight load and working load spec and some just a working load spec. I want to carry one to have my stuck truck and trailer pulled out of the wet grass. My combined weight is about 30-32k. This is one of the straps that I have narrowed it down to. https://www.amazon.com/Keeper-02963...&ie=UTF8&qid=1480393309&sr=1-1&keywords=02963

I need to call them to find out what it is made out of. As my research concluded that nylon is the best material. I do wish that I would find a 20 foot one as the vehicle trying to pull me out might run out of road.
Thanks for all of the feedback.

 

[NIsaacs]

I do wish that I would find a 20 foot one as the vehicle trying to pull me out might run out of road.
Thanks for all of the feedback.

Here ya go, first link is 6"x20', second link is 3"x20' two ply, same rating as the 6" single ply.

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Towin...ry-Straps/Recovery-Straps-W-Cordura-Eyes-6x20

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Towin...-Straps-W-Cordura-Eyes-3x20-2-ply-2x-strength

Note the 3" two ply is a lot cheaper than the 6" one ply with the same rating.

Nick

 

[JR]

It's going to be hard finding a strap rated for more than the 30k SWL you need. Relying on the published breaking strength of a strap is walking a fine line, especially if there's any tugging involved which there almost certainly will be unless the off chance you can actually find someone heavier than you to pull on you. And this is where a true kinetic rope like a bubba rope really shines.

 

[JR]

Interesting as some give a weight load and working load spec and some just a working load spec. I want to carry one to have my stuck truck and trailer pulled out of the wet grass. My combined weight is about 30-32k. This is one of the straps that I have narrowed it down to. https://www.amazon.com/Keeper-02963...&ie=UTF8&qid=1480393309&sr=1-1&keywords=02963

I need to call them to find out what it is made out of. As my research concluded that nylon is the best material. I do wish that I would find a 20 foot one as the vehicle trying to pull me out might run out of road.
Thanks for all of the feedback.

I
Just in case you missed it, I got this from your link.

Rated Capacity
Also known as "assembly capacity" or "break strength." This is the maximum load a complete assembly can withstand before failure in a laboratory pull test when the product is new.

So the 60k lb capacity they are advertising is the breaking strength not the actual SWL of the strap. It is rated right at your 30k lb mark.

 

[NIsaacs]

All we need is a simple tow strap here, we are not doing any overhead lifting. If we need WLL for a 30k strap now we need a 1.5" shackle that weighs 17# and costs $190, where do we stop? What is the tow hook rated at on the front of the pickup, or a tow ball/drawbar?

A 6" strap will hold a road grader.....

Nick